Big day coming sooner than I thought!

Got tank in and set on stand by 6:00p, was getting ready to move it from the van up the 3 stairs of my front porch and in place with only three of us, but thank God number 4 showed up just in time! Went incredibly smooth, no smashed fingers or boo boo's of any kind. Then had time to sit back, relax and enjoy our weekly shindig! Yea we had tons of people, probably 10ish or so.....but most of our usual crowd are shall we say, uhmmm, able to remember 'Sea-hunt with Mike Nelson', or other wise mobility challanged...so had to wait for sons n grandsons in some cases to get here for the tank move. My first chance with the new tank to show patients.Our last camera died a pre-mature death a while back, so am at the mercy of the Mrs. to E-MAIL me the pics from her phone so I can shair them with you all......'CHECKS n THE MAIL' trust me. Took pics with my dinosaur of a flip phone but need to text them over to her phone, so she can E-MAIL them to my computer.......life has gotten so complicated with all these devices that make life easier!
Pics and updates to follow......eventualy,
Dave

Instead of draining it so fast I'm leaving it filled for the moment while I 'test-run' the over-flow box and sump, pump, and return ect. Fasten hoses and wires, and a good long look to be sure everything stays nice and dry, and wet where it should be wet. Read a lot of threads on HOB over-flow boxes....THEY ARE LOUD! Couldn't picture the big whoop every one was talking about the noise they make.....can now! After talking with the fella I got it from, and a good laugh, he told me about the sponges he put over the drain tube....quieted right up it did, thanks. Then the rubber under the pump in the sump to isolate it from making noise. Now the only sounds come from the 'trickle-filter' part of the sump where the water drops thru.....I think it sounds relaxing, my wife has another term for the sound. Can't decide if it's a benefit keeping the 'trickle' aspect since I removed the bio-balls from it, or just run a hose to the bottom and get rid of the 'falling/dripping aspect? I'm kinda thinking it helps with oxigenating the water, but could be wrong, and my wife will wind up with a quieter sump, Any thoughts....still have plenty of time to fine tune, and even make u-turns.
Dave
:read:
Oh yea....got home from work yesterday to the site of a paper towel on the floor by my return line.....panic! But my wife saw the look on my face and yelled out from the kitchen that it was cause of one of the dogs...accident. Wooooooow! That stopped the old heart.
:funny:

Just a little update...Started the long slow process of bringing this beast to life. Added first piece of LR Saturday,("That whole Saturday over time, it's my 'play money' thing."). Have 55lbs. of dry rock, God willing should be here today from 'Reef-Cleaners', and we get to do some aqua-scaping to night. ("I'll be ordering and picking out localy more as I go into building this reef once I see it taking shape.") Been looking over all the pics of 'softies only' tanks trying to find a direction I want to steer this reef.....overwhelming! There some absolutely gorgious tanks out there, but seeing them flowing in all their glory covered in mature corals takes your' focus off the reef it self. Going to take some thought.....as every part of this hobby. Always open for suggestions, and pics, thanks,
Dave

rininger85 said:

so you went from a leak test, to tossing in LR to start cycling the tank... did you add salt? Is the tank set up to be an island or still have to drain it and move it back? Seems like a lot of natural light coming from a window behind the tank? Have you taken that in to consideration? Might be an algae issue... if you are sliding the tank back maybe planning on painting the back first?

Click to expand...

Just like my wife always tells about that 'face-book' thingy she goes on....seems there are some on there that tell you about each breath they take, and which direction they were pointing when they did. I'm kinda just hitting the 'mile-stones' as I go. Though a fresh water reef tank would be soooo much simpler! After easing my concerns of the tank and sump system being safe, I drained it and is now running using 'reef crystals'. As my other tank, the 45g I didn't even think about the salt mix, went instinctively with Instant-Ocean, just what I had always used with fish only. Now I'm going to gradualy start adding the reef crystals in with the IO as I do my water changes getting the inhabitants use to their eventual new home in the 220. And yes, my tank is going to be an 'island' set up....will be the focal point of the room, with several 'rolling stools' close by to take in the view....if there are others around who like me, can just sit and stare for hours at a reef tank. And it happened to have been a beautiful day when I took that picture, windows wide open to take advantage of it. But the room is actually fairly dim with the blinds kept down, as they will be usually, so I have as you said, better control of the algae growth. My box of rocks did show up yesterday, and are now keeping my lonely piece of live-rock company. And will be purchasing a few more pieces of live-rock Saturday....need the OT money to support my habit!
Dave